NURSİNG EDUCATİONNCT07750652
The Effect of Creative Drama Education on Nursing Students' Reflective Thinking and Clinical Decision-Making: A Mixed-Methods Study
A study testing Creative Drama-Based Trainning and Case-Based Discussion in people with NURSİNG EDUCATİON and Nursing Students, run by Agri Ibrahim Cecen University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial summary
This randomized controlled mixed-methods study evaluated the effect of creative drama education on nursing students' reflective thinking and clinical decision-making skills. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving creative drama education (n = 40) or a control group participating… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and olderHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- NURSİNG EDUCATİON, Nursing Students, Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing
- What is being tested?
- Creative Drama-Based Trainning and Case-Based Discussion
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 77 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jun 2025to 30 Jun 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 years and older
- All sexes
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Undergraduate fourth-year nursing students enrolled in the nursing program.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Able to communicate in Turkish.
- Available to attend all scheduled educational sessions.
Who cannot join
- Previous participation in formal creative drama training related to nursing education.
- Failure to attend one or more educational sessions.
- Withdrawal from the study at any stage.
- Incomplete completion of the study questionnaires (pre-test or post-test).
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site
Agri Ibrahim Cecen University
Ağrı, Merkez, 04100
About this study
This randomized controlled mixed-methods study evaluated the effect of creative drama education on nursing students' reflective thinking and clinical decision-making skills. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving creative drama education (n = 40) or a control group participating in case-based discussion sessions (n = 37). Quantitative data were collected before and after the intervention using validated measurement instruments. Following completion of the intervention, qualitative interviews were conducted with participants from the experimental group to explore their learning experiences and provide a deeper explanation of the quantitative findings.
Read the detailed description
Reflective thinking and clinical decision-making are essential competencies for nursing students to deliver safe, evidence-based, and patient-centered care. Active learning approaches are increasingly recommended to improve these competencies during undergraduate nursing education. Creative drama is an experiential teaching method that promotes active participation, critical reflection, communication, empathy, collaboration, and problem-solving through role-playing, improvisation, and group interaction.
This randomized controlled mixed-methods study investigated whether creative drama education improves nursing students' reflective thinking and clinical decision-making compared with conventional case-based discussion. Undergraduate nursing students were randomly allocated to either an experimental group receiving structured creative drama education (n = 40) or a control group receiving case-based discussion sessions (n = 37). Reflective thinking and clinical decision-making were measured before and after the intervention. Subsequently, qualitative interviews were conducted with students in the experimental group to explore their experiences and explain the quantitative findings.
- Conditions
- NURSİNG EDUCATİON, Nursing Students, Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing, Reflective Thinking, Creative Drama
- Being tested
- Creative Drama-Based Trainning, Case-Based Discussion
- Keywords
- NURSING EDUCATION, Nursing Students, Clinical Decision-Making, creative drama, Reflective thinking
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Creative Drama-Based TrainningBehavioural
Participants in the experimental group received a structured creative drama education program designed to enhance reflective thinking and clinical decision-making skills. The intervention consisted of interactive sessions incorporating warm-up activities, improvisation, role-playing, group enactment of realistic nursing scenarios, reflection, and group discussion. Students actively explored clinical situations by assuming different roles, analyzing patient care problems, and reflecting on their experiences throughout the drama process. The educational content was standardized and delivered by the same instructor using a predefined creative drama program.
Case-Based DiscussionBehavioural
Participants in the control group received conventional case-based discussion sessions covering the same learning objectives as the experimental group. The sessions included instructor-guided analysis of written clinical cases, question-and-answer activities, and group discussions without the use of creative drama techniques or experiential role-play.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Drama-Based Training | Experimental | Participants received structured creative drama education designed to improve reflective thinking and clinical decision-making through experiential learning, role-playing, improvisation, and group reflection. Receives: Behavioral: Creative Drama-Based Trainning |
| Case-Based Discussion | Other | Participants received instructor-guided case discussion sessions covering the same educational objectives using conventional teaching methods. Receives: Behavioral: Case-Based Discussion |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Reflective Thinking
Change in reflective thinking scores measured from baseline to immediately after completion of the educational intervention using a validated reflective thinking scale.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the intervention.
Clinical Decision-Making
Change in clinical decision-making scores measured from baseline to immediately after completion of the educational intervention using a validated clinical decision-making scale.
Measured: Baseline and immediately after the intervention.
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted6 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Jun 2025
- Primary completion30 Jun 2025
- Study completion30 Jun 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for NURSİNG EDUCATİONStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 77 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Agri Ibrahim Cecen University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Tugce Kabak Solak, Agri Ibrahim Cecen University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07750652
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- AGRSABFTKS003
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 6 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 6 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- The Effect of Creative Drama Education on Nursing Students' Reflective Thinking and Clinical Decision-Making: A Mixed-Methods Study
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07750652
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- AGRSABFTKS003
- Conditions
- NURSİNG EDUCATİON, Nursing Students, Clinical Decision-Making in Nursing, Reflective Thinking, Creative Drama
- Keywords
- NURSING EDUCATION, Nursing Students, Clinical Decision-Making, creative drama, Reflective thinking
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 77 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Agri Ibrahim Cecen UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Jun 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 6 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
This randomized controlled mixed-methods study evaluated the effect of creative drama education on nursing students' reflective thinking and clinical decision-making skills. Participants were randomly assigned to either an experimental group receiving creative drama education (n = 40) or a control group participating in case-based discussion sessions (n = 37). Quantitative data were collected before and after the intervention using validated measurement instruments. Following completion of the intervention, qualitative interviews were conducted with participants from the experimental group to explore their learning experiences and provide a deeper explanation of the quantitative findings.
Detailed description
Reflective thinking and clinical decision-making are essential competencies for nursing students to deliver safe, evidence-based, and patient-centered care. Active learning approaches are increasingly recommended to improve these competencies during undergraduate nursing education. Creative drama is an experiential teaching method that promotes active participation, critical reflection, communication, empathy, collaboration, and problem-solving through role-playing, improvisation, and group interaction.
This randomized controlled mixed-methods study investigated whether creative drama education improves nursing students' reflective thinking and clinical decision-making compared with conventional case-based discussion. Undergraduate nursing students were randomly allocated to either an experimental group receiving structured creative drama education (n = 40) or a control group receiving case-based discussion sessions (n = 37). Reflective thinking and clinical decision-making were measured before and after the intervention. Subsequently, qualitative interviews were conducted with students in the experimental group to explore their experiences and explain the quantitative findings.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Other
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Triple blind (participant, investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Drama-Based Training | Experimental | Behavioral: Creative Drama-Based TrainningParticipants received structured creative drama education designed to improve reflective thinking and clinical decision-making through experiential learning, role-playing, improvisation, and group reflection. |
| Case-Based Discussion | Other | Behavioral: Case-Based DiscussionParticipants received instructor-guided case discussion sessions covering the same educational objectives using conventional teaching methods. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Undergraduate fourth-year nursing students enrolled in the nursing program.
- Aged 18 years or older.
- Able to communicate in Turkish.
- Available to attend all scheduled educational sessions.
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- Previous participation in formal creative drama training related to nursing education.
- Failure to attend one or more educational sessions.
- Withdrawal from the study at any stage.
- Incomplete completion of the study questionnaires (pre-test or post-test).
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Creative Drama-Based TrainningParticipants in the experimental group received a structured creative drama education program designed to enhance reflective thinking and clinical decision-making skills. The intervention consisted of interactive sessions incorporating warm-up activities, improvisation, role-playing, group enactment of realistic nursing scenarios, reflection, and group discussion. Students actively explored clinical situations by assuming different roles, analyzing patient care problems, and reflecting on their experiences throughout the drama process. The educational content was standardized and delivered by the same instructor using a predefined creative drama program. | Behavioural | Creative Drama-Based Training |
| Case-Based DiscussionParticipants in the control group received conventional case-based discussion sessions covering the same learning objectives as the experimental group. The sessions included instructor-guided analysis of written clinical cases, question-and-answer activities, and group discussions without the use of creative drama techniques or experiential role-play. | Behavioural | Case-Based Discussion |
Primary outcome
Reflective Thinking
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention.
Change in reflective thinking scores measured from baseline to immediately after completion of the educational intervention using a validated reflective thinking scale.
Clinical Decision-Making
Time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention.
Change in clinical decision-making scores measured from baseline to immediately after completion of the educational intervention using a validated clinical decision-making scale.
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 6 Aug 2026.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Creative Drama-Based Trainning and Case-Based Discussion in people with NURSİNG EDUCATİON and Nursing Students, run by Agri Ibrahim Cecen University at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 4 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 6 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Reflective Thinking (time frame: Baseline and immediately after the intervention.). The study lists 2 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 6 Aug 2026.